( Isaiah 43 v 16 -21)
What has this got to do with us?
A prophet declaring future intentions of God
By quoting history?
But if we read it with this thought:
"This is to do with my inner life - my spiritual journey"
It becomes clear.
The same God who made a way through the sea
Who watched as his children were pursued by an enemy who wanted to enslave them, destroy them
Steal all they had.
Delivered his people
Why?
Because he is doing a new thing
And he asks us to "forget the former things" and to "not dwell on the past"
As he makes a way for us through our own desert experiences
Providing water for us when we are thirsty
So we can worship this One who loves us so much.
But how can we do this.
When the enemy still chases? What of the father of lies?
What of the issues and accusations, that give me no peace?
There is a sea - an ocean - of grace for you.
In it, you will find forgiveness and the ability to forgive.
In it you find the wonderful, overwhelming, love of God.
And the capacity to do what you cannot normally do.
At the bottom of this ocean - buried deep and out of sight
Are the enemy troops - "laying there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick".
Not one will survive. The grace of God is lethal to them.